Chapter 26: Lives at stake
In front of the Gaming Dungeon, tension filled the air like a thick fog as the maids and muscle men stood frozen before their Sir Baron, Wallace.
Wallace question was still in the air, heavy with curiosity: where was Butler Mendez?
Suddenly, breaking the silence, one of the muscle men dared to speak, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and responsibility. "Sir Baron, there was a commotion at the gate, Sir Baron," he stuttered, "and Mr. Mendez told us to let you know that he's dealing with whoever is causing the trouble..."
Wallace's eyes narrowed, his curiosity sparked. "Tell him to bring the one who was causing the commotion here," he ordered, his voice filled with authority. "I want to know who, what, and why someone is causing a disturbance."
As if on cue, Wallace raised a clear water cup to his lips, taking a sip as he wondered who had arrived to cause a disturbance. But as the cool liquid touched his tongue, he realized something was wrong. "This isn't cold," he muttered to himself, his forehead creasing in annoyance.
The muscle men, sensing their Sir Baron's displeasure, bowed one by one, their eyes filled with determination. "Yes, Sir Baron," they said in unison. "We'll do what you told us."
Grateful for their obedience, Wallace gave a quick nod of appreciation. "Thank you," he said, his voice reflecting a mix of gratitude and anticipation.
The maids and muscle men exchanged surprised glances, their curiosity now heightened by the mysterious events unfolding before them.
Butler Mendez had warned them to be respectful to the new Noble and Baron, but they didn't expect this new Baron to be so polite. He is unlike the Toraz family members who treated them as if they weren't human, this new Baron was different.
The muscle men and the maids would nod, saying, "We would like to excuse ourselves, sir," they all said. Then, Wallace would simply give them a nod and say, "Go on…"
…
In front of the grand Toraz Family Mansion, bathed in the fading light of the setting sun, stood a teenage girl, her torn dress clinging to her dirty figure. Her brown hair, messy and wind-blown, framed a worried and desperate face.
Her intense brown eyes darted anxiously, searching for someone, anyone who could help her in her difficult situation.
"Please," she begged, her voice shaking with urgency, "I need to talk to whoever is in charge. Is it Lucas, Luna, Leila, or Leshna? Or maybe even the Baron himself? This is really important..."
But her words were abruptly stopped by a line of heavily armored soldiers, their menacing spears forming a strong barrier in front of her trembling body.
The cold metal pressed against her chest, a clear reminder of the power and authority of the protected mansion.
Meanwhile, the calm Butler, a steady presence amidst the chaos, observed the unfolding scene with a raised eyebrow.
"Hmm? If this is really so important," he asked, his voice filled with suspicion, "then why can't you trust me with your message?"
As Butler thought about the situation, ready to dismiss the girl and return to his young master, the girl's desperation reached its peak. A mix of frustration and fear compelled her to release a flood of anguished cries, her voice piercing the evening air.
"Please! Please! Everyone's lives in this town are in danger, please!"
She insisted that she had news of great importance but she refused to reveal it to him.
"I can't trust you," she sobbed, her words catching in her throat, "I can only trust them..."
Butler Mendez, usually composed, found himself surprised by the girl's unwavering stubbornness. He couldn't understand why she insisted on withholding the information she claimed to possess so desperately.
This encounter with the girl became increasingly baffling, making him wonder about her true intentions and the secrets she carried on why she is so adamant.
Just as the tense atmosphere threatened to overwhelm them both, a sudden commotion erupted from the edge of the mansion grounds.
"Hmm?" Butler Mendez, the ragged girl and the soldiers turned to look.
Strong men, their bulging arms straining against their shirts, emerged from the shadows. They approached Butler with determination, their eyes fixed on him.
"Mr. Mendez," one of the men said sternly, his voice filled with authority, "Sir Wallace has summoned you. He wants you to come to him immediately. He said if there's any trouble, bring the person causing it, he wants to handle it himself."
Butler's eyes narrowed, his curiosity sparked. The mention of Wallace, his master's name, coupled with the memory of when Wallace spoke those words, compelled Butler Mendez to comply.
He knew a bit about the new young Baron's character, but not everything, so Butler Mendez understood that he should follow, fearing that Wallace might become angry or annoyed otherwise.
"Very well," Butler replied, his voice firm and commanding. "Lead the way."
As they walked towards the source of the disturbance, the teenage girl's anguished cries echoed in the silence. "Please take me with you!" she pleaded, and Butler Mendez paused. "Of course, you can come too," he said, leaving the girl astonished.
…
Meanwhile, Wallace's mind was filled with curiosity as he tried to understand the nature of the disturbance that had caught his Butler Mendez with. He looked at Rederic, the Mana Knight who had not yet entered the ominous depths of the dungeon.
To his surprise, Rederic emitted a ghostly glow that captured Wallace's attention. "You leveled up as a Magic Knight?"
Wallace asked, his voice showing a hint of boredom. The question seemed unnecessary, but he desperately wanted something to ease his restlessness.
Rederic, always the polite knight, nodded and replied, "Yes, sir. I think I just reached the prestigious rank of 'Beginning Magic Knight in the 8th stage.' I owe you a great debt, Sir Baron, for creating such an amazing dungeon. I was stuck at the 7th stage for what felt like forever, unable to advance because of my lack of talent. But your dungeon has taken me to unimaginable heights."
Wallace pretended to nod in approval, hiding his indifference behind a mask of gratitude.
In truth, he felt little joy or appreciation, despite the importance of the system that had given him this opportunity. He longed for something more, something that would awaken his dormant emotions.
Soon an idea sparked in his mind, and he dared to ask the question that troubled him.
"Can you tell me about the different ranks in the world of Magic Users?"
Wallace asked cautiously, aware of the limited time this Mana Knight had.
"Of course, I understand if you're busy, and you only have limited time after all, It's just my curiosity..."
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone